Auditions/New Students

Auditions for new and transfer students who plan to begin classes in Fall 2024 will be held live on the Marywood University campus.

Departmental Auditions

During the audition process, there will be opportunities to perform for our audition committee and meet members of our faculty. Additional arrangements may be made to meet with academic advisors and current Marywood music and theatre students.

Audition Dates

Winds, Strings, Percussion, Guitar | Schedule Audition »

Auditions may be booked online for the following Saturdays:

  • December 9, 2023
  • January 20, 2024
  • February 10, 2024
  • February 17, 2024
  • February 24, 2024

After February 24, 2024, please contact Dr. David Romines to schedule a wind, string, percussion, or guitar audition.

Voice, Piano, Organ, Musical Theatre | Schedule Audition »

Voice, piano, organ and musical theatre auditions take place in the Marian Chapel at the Swartz Center.

Auditions may be booked online for the following Saturdays:

  • December 16, 2023
  • January 13, 2024
  • January 27, 2024*
  • February 10, 2024*
  • February 24, 2024

*January 27 and February 10 are audition/workshop days that are intended to give prospective students a fuller experience than the audition alone. The schedule on those two days will also include:

1:00-2:00 PM: Complimentary lunch with Marywood faculty
2:15-2:45 PM: Question-and-answer session with current Marywood students
2:45-3:45 PM: Optional complimentary sample lessons with Marywood faculty

After February 24, 2024, please contact Dr. Rick Hoffenberg for a voice, piano, organ, or musical theatre audition.

Important Contacts

If you have questions about our programs, please contact any of our program directors via email:  

Dr. Rick Hoffenberg - Vocal and Keyboard Studies  (rhoffenberg@marywood.edu)

Dr. David Romines - Winds, Strings, and Percussion Studies  (dromines@marywood.edu)  

Dr. Eun Sil Suh - Music Therapy Program  (esuh@marywood.edu)

Dr. Joan McCusker - Music Education Program  (mccusker@marywood.edu)

Dr. Timothy Pyles – Theatre Programs (tpyles@marywood.edu)

All Undergraduate & Transfer Students

Acceptance by the University is required before an audition can be scheduled. 

  • Apply to University. 
  • FAFSA Deadlines for financial aid: February 15 (fall entry) and November 1 (spring entry).
  • For talent scholarship consideration, auditions must be completed by March 1.
  • Transfer students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in music courses at Marywood. Transfer students in education must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 for acceptance.
  • Freshmen education majors must have a minimum SAT score of 970 (Math/Reading combined).

Marywood University Scholarships and Talent Awards

Accompaniment

Instrumental applicants should plan to perform unaccompanied.

A pianist will be provided for vocal auditions.

General Guidelines for All Auditions

For Musical Arts

  • BA Arts Administration/Music
  • BM Music Education; Music Therapy; Music Performance

Perform two contrasting works demonstrating technical skills and musicianship (see below for suggested repertoire by instrument). Memorization of vocal audition pieces is strongly recommended.

For Theatre Arts 

Musical theatre majors must audition in voice, acting, and dance.

Prospective theatre, theatre education, and arts administration (theatre) majors should contact Dr. Timothy Pyles (tpyles@maryu.marywood.edu) to arrange an interview.

Voice (for Musical Theatre Majors)

Musical theatre applicants should perform two contrasting musical theatre selections, or one classical piece and one musical theatre selection.

Dance (for Musical Theatre Majors)

You will be taught a short dance routine. Please bring attire that allows freedom of movement.

Acting (for Musical Theatre Majors and Theatre Majors whose focus is performing)

Please prepare a 1-2 minute memorized monologue from a published play. Select a piece that is appropriate for your age and ability. The theatre evaluator will be looking for a truthful and believable representation of the character. Show through your voice and body that you understand the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions.

Non-performance (for Theatre Majors whose strength is in production work)

If you have exhibited a talent for non-performing aspects of theatre such as stage management, design, or technical production, contact Dr. Timothy Pyles at tpyles@marywood.edu and be prepared to discuss your experience and goals in these areas.

Do I Need to Audition?

BM music education, music therapy, music performance; BA arts admin/music; and BA music (musical theatre) majors must audition. Musical theatre audition includes voice, acting and dance components (bring comfortable clothes and shoes). Theatre students will audition/interview with the program director. 

Skills Assessment

Sight-Singing and Sight-Reading

Sight singing and sight reading are a part of all auditions.

All auditioning students will be asked to take a short music theory test. This test is used only for placement and does not impact acceptance in our programs. 

Suggested audition repertoire (by instrument)

Vocal

  1. Art song (in Italian, French, or German)
  2. Classical or folk selection in English

Keyboards

Piano

Two contrasting works from different compositional periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary)

Organ

  1. Classical work from standard organ repertoire
  2. Two verses of a traditional hymn: (1) include appropriate introduction; (2) first verse played as written; second verse may be a re-harmonization or improvisation based on first verse
  3. Technique exercises (facility on manuals and pedals)

Woodwinds & Brass

  • Flute; Clarinet; Saxophone; Oboe; Bassoon
  • Trumpet; Horn in F; Trombone; Euphonium; Tuba
  1. Be prepared to perform two excerpts, each lasting from 3-5 minutes. One excerpt should emphasize technical skill and the other should be lyrical to emphasize expressiveness. These excerpts may be taken from a concerto, sonata, or solo work.
  2. Major scales ascending and descending (multiple octaves when possible) with articulations as determined by audition committee.

Percussion

Applicants should bring drum sticks and mallets and demonstrate proficiency on multiple instruments.

  • Snare Drum: Concert-style snare drum solo demonstrating concert rolls, flams, ruffs
  • Drum Set (Optional): drum set proficiency in swing, rock, & Latin styles
  • Keyboard Percussion/Mallets: Two-mallet solo from standard repertoire required (Optional: four-mallet solo demonstrating skill level)
  • Timpani: Timpani solo on at least two timpani, including rolls. Demonstrate ability to tune timpani from a given piano reference pitch

Strings

Violin; Viola; Cello; Harp; Double Bass

  1. Two stylistically contrasting movements (technical v. lyrical) from standard classical repertoire demonstrating performance skills as soloist
  2. Major/minor scales (2 octaves)

Acoustic Guitar

  1. Two stylistically contrasting solo pieces from standard classical repertoire
  2. Major/minor scales (melodic minor form, 2 or 3 octaves)

Electric Bass Guitar

  1. Two contrasting jazz pieces, melody
  2. An improvised bass line and bass solo
  3. Major/minor scales, arpeggios (2 octaves)